Six Fort Bend teams ready for area round

Jack Marrion

Published 8:46 am, Friday, February 21, 2014

The area playoffs commence tonight for five Fort Bend ISD boys basketball teams and Fort Bend Christian, all playing at separate locations. Bush, Travis, Elkins, Marshall and Ridge Point were victorious in bi-district playoff games in their respective classes Feb. 18.

Bush, ranked No.3 in Class 5A and the repeat District 23-5A champion, takes on Pearland at 7:30 p.m. at Houston ISD’s Barnett Fieldhouse. The Broncos fought through a slowly-played 24-18 victory against Clear Falls in their playoff opener. Eden Ewing’s eight points led Bush, which led 16-13 at halftime, played through a scoreless third quarter and held on to the advantage in the fourth quarter.

Last year Bush won four playoff games to reach the Region III-5A championship game against Travis, which is still in the hunt to defend its state title after a 66-56 bi-district win against Clear Springs. The Tigers take on District 22-5A champion Manvel at 7 p.m. at Stafford High School.

Tyronne Jordan (16 points), Hakeem Butler (13), Robert Johnson (11) and Quinten Davis (10) led the charge against Clear Springs as Travis built an 18-17 halftime lead then stormed ahead with a 25-7 third quarter.

District 23-5A No. 3 seed Elkins used a stellar second half to get past Clear Creek 60-48 in the opening round. The Knights trailed 28-24 at halftime but had a 23-6 advantage in the third quarter and led by as much as 20 in the fourth.

Nathaniel Cephas and Alajuwa Nealy-Davis poured in nine points against Clear Creek. A.J. Jack led with 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Knights, who play District 21-5A champion North Shore at 6 p.m. at Dawson High School. Elkins’ last area playoff game was also against North Shore, an 81-65 loss in 2012.

The only 23-5A team that did not win its first-round game was Dulles, which fell 64-57 to District 24-5A champion Clear Lake. The Vikings had a successful season nonetheless, returning to the playoffs and clawing within three in the fourth quarter despite being down by double digits at halftime. Dylan Jacob (14), Stephen Neilson (10) and Devion Baker (10) led the scoring for the Vikings in their season finale.

In Class 4A, Marshall had little trouble with Waltrip in a 73-48 win, starting the game on a 10-0 run and building a 33-24 halftime lead. Damien Day (19), Elliot Taylor (16), Jeremy Smith (11) and Christian Barrett (10) all reached double figures. The District 22-4A Buffalos face Lamar Consolidated, the 23-4A runner-up, at 7 p.m. at Spring Branch ISD’s Coleman Coliseum.

Ridge Point earned its first playoff victory in school history with a 71-57 triumph against North Forest. The Panthers made the playoffs last year but were edged in the first round.

This time, Eric Porter (16), Jalen Norwood (13), Caleb Thomas (13), AuQuan Holmes (10) and Felton Blaylock (10) produced a well-rounded offense as the Panthers advanced to play 24-4A champion Friendswood at 7 p.m. at Pearland High School.

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In TAPPS 4A, Fort Bend Christian’s boys defeated Austin Hyde Park Baptist 56-52 to open the playoffs, an impressive road win after the Eagles entered the bracket as a No. 5 seed. Ryan Grover was 3 for 4 from three-point range in a 19-point performance, while Kellen Hutchinson added 12 points and seven rebounds, Gustavo Wiggins had 10 points and Zach Felton amassed nine points, eight assists and five steals.

FBCA (20-16) rallied from a four-point deficit after three quarters and advanced to an area matchup with district rival Lutheran South (24-11). The Eagles defeated the Pioneers 59-58 during the regular season.